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Trump admin’s new nutrition guidelines target ultra-processed foods, ease up on red meat and saturated fats

The Trump administration is taking aim at ultra-processed foods while reversing long-held U.S. government stances on red meat and saturated fats.

‘The Trump administration is now updating federal nutrition standards and guidelines to ensure that Americans have the most accurate, data-driven information supported by science and hard facts, not special interests or partisan ideology,’ White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Leavitt said that the guidelines would impact what is served in public schools, what American servicemembers eat and what food is distributed through government programs.

‘Faulty dietary guidelines of the past stack the deck against healthy eating and food options for everyday American families, which has fueled the chronic disease epidemic and jacked up the health care costs of households across the country,’ Leavitt added. ‘When these guidelines are followed, Americans will be saving themselves thousands of dollars. If we want to cut health care costs in our country, we must become a healthier country… A healthier America will lead to a more affordable America.’

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the new guidelines with an updated, inverted food pyramid. The top of the pyramid, which is now the wider part of the structure, is built on meat, fats, fruits and vegetables, while whole grains are at the narrow bottom.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made overhauling the U.S. food supply a crucial focus of his ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) agenda, which is aimed at addressing chronic disease and childhood illnesses. The secretary has argued that the nation’s food practices have harmed Americans and led to skyrocketing healthcare costs.

‘The new guidelines recognize that whole, nutrient-dense food is the most effective path to better health and lower health care costs,’ Kennedy said. ‘Protein and healthy fats are essential, and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines. We are ending the war on saturated fats.’

The HHS secretary railed against refined carbohydrates, food additives and added sugar, highlighting the health risks associated with sugar-sweetened beverages. Kennedy’s main message to Americans was to ‘eat real food.’

Kennedy framed the issue as not only one about health, but also one of national security.

‘If a foreign adversary sought to destroy the health of our children, cripple our economy, to weaken our national security, there would be no better strategy than to addict us to ultra-processed foods,’ he said.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also joined the briefing. She praised Secretary Kennedy’s work and highlighted the role that farmers would play in making America healthy again.

‘We are finally putting real food back at the center of the American diet. Real food that nourishes the body, restores health, fuels energy and builds strength,’ Rollins said. ‘This pivot also leans into the abundant, affordable and healthy food supply already available from America’s incredible farmers and ranchers. By making milk, raising cattle, and growing wholesome fruits, vegetables, and grains, they hold the key to solving our national health crisis.’

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary emphasized the harm that old guidelines did to the health of everyday Americans. He noted that protein guidelines in particular were far too low for America’s children.

‘We have 40% of our kids now with a chronic disease. It is not their fault. This is something that is the result of bad advice from the government and a medical establishment that for decades peddled research from a flawed 1960s model,’ Makary said. ‘This is not a willpower problem for our nation’s kids. This is something adults have done to kids, and we’re going to fix it.’

Makary agreed with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz that the best way for the U.S. to reduce drug spending is for Americans to focus on diet and health with the goal of not taking medications that they do not need.

The new guidance comes in stark contrast to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s report released in the final days of President Joe Biden’s term, which garnered criticism over a lack of directives on ultra-processed foods.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Emmer warns Walz could end up ‘in cuffs’ amid Minnesota fraud claims

The No. 3 leader in the House of Representatives is arguing that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz could be leaving office earlier than he intended, even after the progressive refused to resign over alleged widespread fraud in his state.

‘I think perhaps this is a lot deeper, a lot larger than we knew,’ Emmer told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. ‘Tim should do the right thing and resign. And if he doesn’t, I think he might be leaving the offices in cuffs.’

Federal prosecutors are investigating accusations of fraud within Minnesota’s social programs, with a significant amount of scrutiny on the state’s Somali community.

U.S. attorneys have alleged that as much as $9 billion in state and federal funding could have fallen prey to fraud, an estimate that Walz and other state Democratic leaders have said is overblown.

Walz said during a press conference on Tuesday that he would not resign over the scandal, telling reporters when asked, ‘Over my dead body will that happen.’

The enhanced media scrutiny did push Walz to drop his bid for a third term as governor, however.

Asked about his refusal to resign, Emmer said, ‘This guy has got to stop acting like a coward, and he’s got to start taking accountability for the fact that he is completely incompetent, and perhaps even complicit, in one of the most breathtaking fraud examples that we’ve ever seen.’

‘Tim Walz, he said he was running for a third term and that he was going to fight for Minnesota. And then what he did was, he said, ‘Well, I’m not going to run for a third term anymore, but I’m going to fight for Minnesota.’ And he came out the next day, had to have a press conference to say he wasn’t resigning,’ Emmer said. ‘It’s just wild. He’s coming unglued.’

Walz said he was ‘accountable for this’ as the top state official during his press conference on Tuesday, while also criticizing Republicans’ response to the matter.

‘Republicans want to tell you everybody with brown skin is stealing money or that they’re not welcome here. They want to do nothing to improve this state. Their idea of improving this state is being a parrot for Donald Trump, agreeing to everything that he agreed with,’ he said.

‘Right now they are hiding behind a veil of innuendo. They’re protecting the biggest fraudster in the White House.’

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced last month it had charged six people for ‘participating in schemes to defraud the government in the Autism fraud scheme and the Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) fraud scheme.’

Federal prosecutors also charged multiple people last year with stealing more than $240 million from the Federal Child Nutrition Program through the Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future.

Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office for a response to Emmer’s comments.

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Oregon rules out key RB for Peach Bowl vs. Indiana

Oregon football will be without a key member of its offense for its College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal against No. 1 Indiana on Friday, Jan. 9.

The fifth-seeded Ducks officially ruled out running back Jordon Davison for the national semifinal game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, according to the initial CPF availability report that was released on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

Davison’s rule-out came a few hours after The Oregonian reported the true freshman running back broke his clavicle against Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl.

It’s a big loss for the Ducks, as Davison leads the team with 15 rushing yards and is second in rushing yards at 667. With Davison out, Noah Whittington, who has split snaps with Davison this season, will take on more snaps and a role in Oregon’s running game, as the Ducks recently lost Jayden Limar and Makhi Hughes to the transfer portal.

The Ducks and the Hoosiers are slated for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Jan. 9 in the CFP Peach Bowl semifinal inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Here’s what to know on Davison’s injury, including a look at the full availability report for the CFP Peach Bowl semifinal:

Will Jordon Davison play in CFP Peach Bowl? Status vs Indiana for Oregon RB

No, Davison was ruled out for the CFP Peach Bowl semifinal vs. Indiana in Oregon’s initial availability report that was released on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

Jordon Davison injury report

It is unclear when Davison sustained the injury during the Ducks’ 23-0 win. He finished with 42 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 15 carries against the Red Raiders.

CFP Peach Bowl availability report: Which Indiana, Oregon players are out?

Here’s a look at the initial availability report for both Indiana and Oregon:

Indiana

OUT

  • DL Stephen Daley
  • DL Kellan Wyatt
  • DB Amariyun Knighten
  • DB Bryson Bonds
  • RB Lee Beebe Jr.
  • K Brendan Franke
  • DL Andrew DePaepe

Oregon

OUT

  • DB Daylen Austin
  • RB Jordon Davison
  • DB Kingston Lopa
  • WR Kyler Kasper
  • DB Sione Laulea
  • WR Evan Stewart
  • WR Justius Lowe
  • DB Solomon Davis
  • RB Makhi Hughes
  • RB De’Jaun Riggs
  • RB Jayden Limar
  • OL Gernorris Wilson

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On second thought, can we vote Trinidad Chambliss for Heisman?

  • Is it too late to give Trinidad Chambliss a Heisman vote? College football’s best story this season comes in a 6-foot tall, powder blue package.
  • Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza a worthy winner, but easy to envision Trinidad Chambliss among finalists if awarded issued after College Football Playoff.
  • Trinidad Chambliss pledges loyalty to Ole Miss as NCAA evaluates waiver.

I’d like my Heisman Trophy ballot back. I desire a revision.

College football’s best story this season comes in a 6-foot tall, powder blue package.

Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss made us believe in the underdog. This postseason, he made us recognize the quarterback throwing the passes can be more important than the guy wearing the headset on the sideline.

In a year’s time, this former zero-star recruit went from starting for a Division II national champion to becoming an SEC backup to stepping in as a dual-threat dynamo on one of the nation’s best teams.

When Lane Kiffin cast the Rebels into a nonstop drama, Chambliss remained a stabilizing force. He inspired a fan base to the degree they started flying a Caribbean country’s flag to show support for a 23-year-old American native to Michigan.

“A lot of people did doubt us before the season, and they still doubted us when our coach left,” Chambliss said after the Sugar Bowl. “We just want to play ball and have fun, and I think that’s showing.”

He’s showing he probably belonged among Heisman finalists in New York.

He’s become like a character from a Clair Bee novel. Title it: Tremendous Trinidad.

As Chambliss fired 13 consecutive completions in a Sugar Bowl rally and became a human pinwheel spinning away from Georgia pass rushers to turn would-be trouble into deep strikes, it occurred to me maybe we weren’t just watching college football’s best story. This quarterback who threw for 362 yards against Georgia looked like the sport’s best player, too.

He’s not just a star. He’s an inspiration.

“I feel like a lot of kids growing up really look up to him,” Ole Miss wide receiver Harrison Wallace III said after the Sugar Bowl.

What’s the return policy on Heisman ballots? I erred omitting Trinidad the Tremendous from mine.

Trinidad Chambliss would’ve made a worthy Heisman finalist

I mean that as no disrespect to Indiana’s Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, terrific in his own right in a Rose Bowl blowout of Alabama. Mendoza’s performance in Pasadena made him look like a worthy winner.

Chambliss’ performances against Tulane and Georgia made me think he could’ve been a Heisman finalist, if ballots weren’t due until January.

How different might the finalist field have looked, if college football’s top honor wasn’t awarded until after the playoff?

My ballot, due in early December, looked like this: Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Mendoza and Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame). If I’d had another month, Chambliss’ name would’ve been no lower than third on my ballot.

Tradition dictates college football’s top award gets issued before the postseason. Of course, the postseason used to consist of no more than one bowl game per team. Also, if you go back just 25 years, postseason stats didn’t even count toward a player’s official season totals.

Much has changed. Maybe, the timing of the Heisman should be reconsidered to meet the moment.

Latest chapter in story: Trinidad Chambliss pledges loyalty to Ole Miss

If the Heisman is to remain a regular-season award, then maybe we ought to consider another iconic trophy and award it to a playoff MVP, sponsored by Double Eagle Energy Holdings.

Here’s an idea: Winner of the CFP MVP gets a barrel of sweet crude, plus a handshake from a billionaire oil tycoon, who’ll then try to buy the player from the transfer portal.

Good luck trying to pry Chambliss loose from Ole Miss, the team that took a chance on him.

In an era of transients, Chambliss has some loyalty to him. He even hesitated to transfer from Ferris State before deciding test the waters at the encouragement of his Division II coach, as some Division I interest perked up after last season.

Chambliss now seeks an NCAA waiver for a sixth season of eligibility. He did not play in either of his first two seasons at Ferris State. He’s angling for his second year at Ferris to be recognized as a medical redshirt.

If the NCAA grants his waiver, he’d be a hot item in the transfer portal.

Chambliss took another transfer off the table, though. He says he’ll play his final season at Ole Miss, if his waiver is approved. Rebels fans won’t have to stomach seeing their star quarterback in LSU colors then.

“I owe it to Ole Miss,” Chambliss said on ‘SportsCenter’ of his decision to steer clear of the portal. “They just embraced me as a community and loved my family. It’s just felt like home since I got here.”

Chambliss didn’t garner enough votes to win college football’s top award or even earn an invite to New York, but he’s won a lifetime of respect with how he’s played and carried himself this season.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

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USMNT player heads to Germany after Southampton nightmare

Damion Downs has left Southampton after just six months to join Hamburg on loan for the rest of the season.

Downs joined Southampton from FC Köln in the summer in a deal worth $9 million. But the 21-year-old has failed to settle in with the Championship side and has sought more playing time back in Germany as he aims to make a late push for the World Cup roster.

The striker has yet to score a goal for Southampton, starting just three games in all competitions amid 14 total appearances since arriving at St Mary’s.

Downs made 10 Bundesliga appearances for Köln in 2023-24, scoring two goals before the club was relegated. The forward netted 10 times in the German second division last season, helping his team earn an immediate promotion.

“Over the past few days, we have worked very hard to secure Damion and are delighted that we were able to convince him of HSV and our approach,’ said Hamburg board member Eric Huwer.

‘Claus [Costa, sporting director] and his team have done a fantastic job here. This signing underlines our ability to effectively communicate our strengths as a location.’

Costa added: ‘[Downs] knows the Bundesliga and brings an interesting mix of quality and development potential.

“Damion is a vertical center forward who possesses a good mix of size, pace, and depth. With his strengths in transition and his presence in the box, he fits very well into the profile we developed in close consultation with the coaching staff.”

Hamburg is currently 13th in the Bundesliga, four points clear of a promotion-relegation playoff spot. The club earned promotion back to the top flight last season after a seven-year absence.

Downs spent time with American and German youth international teams before casting his lot with the USMNT.

The striker has earned six caps, all of which came in 2025. Downs made four appearances off the bench during the Gold Cup, most recently appearing for the USMNT in a September friendly against Japan.

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China bans military-use exports to key US ally as Taiwan tensions rise

China on Tuesday banned exports of goods that could be used for military purposes to Japan, a move that escalates tensions between Beijing and a key U.S. ally as disputes intensify over Taiwan.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement that any items that have a dual use — civilian and military — would no longer be exported to Japan. 

The government did not offer specifics on which items would be included in the ban. But state-affiliated media said Beijing was considering whether to include rare-earth minerals.

Japanese leaders have increasingly linked Taiwan’s fate to Japan’s own security, with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warning that a Chinese move against the island could amount to a ‘survival-threatening situation’ for Japan — a legal threshold that could permit military action under Japan’s self-defense laws.

In his New Year’s address, Chinese President Xi Jinping called the ‘reunification’ of China and Taiwan ‘unstoppable.’ His remarks came days after China concluded live-fire drills to simulate a blockade of the island. 

The export crackdown echoes a 2010 episode when China halted rare-earth exports to Japan for nearly two months during a territorial dispute.

The rare earths dispute became an early example of China’s willingness to weaponize trade, prompting U.S. and allied defense planners to reassess how deeply military supply chains depended on Beijing. The episode accelerated efforts to diversify sourcing, though China remains a dominant player in several critical sectors.

China controls roughly two-thirds of global rare-earth mining and the vast majority of processing capacity, a dominance that prompted the Trump administration to push to diversify supply chains and revive domestic production as a national security priority.

For years, Washington had largely left rare earths to the market, even as U.S. mines closed and production migrated to China.

The Trump administration broke with decades of hands-off policy by using Pentagon funding and emergency authorities to support MP Materials at California’s Mountain Pass mine, one of the first direct U.S. government interventions to restore rare earth processing capacity seen as critical to modern weapons systems.

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From sanctions to seizure: What Maduro’s capture means for Venezuela’s economy

The arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has reopened debate over whether the country’s long-isolated economy could soon re-engage with global markets, but analysts caution that sanctions relief and recovery are far from guaranteed.

Venezuela is among the world’s most heavily sanctioned countries, alongside Russia, Iran, Syria, North Korea and Cuba, a status that has severely restricted its access to international finance and trade.

Andres Martinez-Fernandez, a senior policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for National Security, warned that lifting those sanctions now would be premature, saying Maduro’s removal has not yet translated into meaningful institutional change.

‘It would be a mistake for any nation to remove sanctions on Venezuela at this moment,’ Martinez-Fernandez said, noting that ‘the remnants of the Maduro regime remain in control of key institutions in Venezuela and have not yet made commitments to a transition that would fully halt the threat posed to the United States and restore stability and democracy to Venezuela.’

‘Maduro’s arrest opens up a path for sanctions to press the regime toward a necessary transition,’ he added, saying that ‘premature removal of this pressure would send the wrong message to Caracas.’

His comments reflect concerns among U.S. policymakers that Venezuela’s military, courts, central bank and state oil company remain dominated by officials appointed under Maduro, many of whom are still sanctioned by Washington. That reality complicates hopes that Maduro’s capture could quickly unlock Venezuela’s oil sector or stabilize an economy that has been in prolonged decline.

At the same time, energy experts say that even if sanctions remain in place, uncertainty over who now controls Venezuela’s economic levers is already weighing on prospects for oil production and exports — the country’s primary source of revenue.

David Goldwyn, chair of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center’s Energy Advisory Group, said markets are still operating in the dark.

‘For now, we have no details about how these fiscal and legal arrangements will evolve,’ Goldwyn said. ‘Until there is clarity on sanctions and licensing and more information on who is actually managing the central bank and ministry of finance, the prospects for Venezuelan oil production and exports will remain uncertain.’

That uncertainty is compounded by the condition of Venezuela’s energy sector itself.

Julia Buxton, a law professor at Liverpool John Moores University, told Fox News Digital that ‘the national oil infrastructure is devastated and will require billions in investment to fix.’

‘There are ongoing legal claims that need to be settled, including compensation claims for expropriation and non-payment of Venezuelan oil bonds,’ added Buxton, who is also a regional head at Oxford Analytica, a Dow Jones–owned geopolitical analysis and advisory firm, covering Venezuela.

Those liabilities, Buxton said, could further complicate efforts to attract foreign capital or restart large-scale oil production, underscoring that Maduro’s capture alone is unlikely to deliver a quick economic turnaround.

Venezuela once had all the makings of an economic powerhouse, with a lengthy Caribbean Sea coastline and abundant petroleum, natural gas and mineral resources.

What remains is a much smaller, debt-laden one.

While precise figures are difficult to verify since Venezuela has not published comprehensive debt statistics in years, the International Monetary Fund estimates the country’s economy will total about $82.8 billion in 2025. Debt levels, however, stand at nearly 200% of that total, meaning Venezuela owes nearly two dollars for every dollar it produces.

Venezuela holds some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but years of underinvestment, corruption, sanctions and infrastructure decay have slashed output. 

Even as some investors and energy companies see Maduro’s capture as an opening for renewed engagement, Goldwyn said uncertainty over who controls state finances and oil policy continues to weigh on prospects.

Martinez-Fernandez said sanctions relief could eventually follow, but only if Venezuela’s leadership demonstrates ‘concrete, irreversible steps’ toward political and institutional reform.

‘Once those commitments and concrete, irreversible steps are taken in Venezuela,’ he said, ‘I imagine a drawing down of U.S. economic and military pressure would follow.’

For now, U.S. officials and energy markets alike remain focused less on Maduro’s fate than on whether Venezuela’s leadership can translate a moment of upheaval into durable political and economic change.

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Scathing audit reveals more fraud concerns inside top Minnesota agency with fabricated documents, ‘misconduct’

A major state audit in Minnesota conducted by the nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Auditor found widespread failures and internal control problems in the Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) grant program, reaffirming concerns about massive fraud issues.

The report, released on Monday, found that between July 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2024, DHS dished out more than $425 million in grants to 830 organizations, the majority being nongovernmental, and did not show proper oversight in watching over those taxpayer funds, which in many cases were meant to help those with addiction and mental health issues.

The audit found missing progress reports and discovered BHA could not show it had completed all required monitoring visits and had no documentation at all for some of them. 

Additionally, auditors discovered what appeared to be backdated or newly created documentation that did not exist before the audit, suggesting an effort to retroactively manufacture paperwork to show compliance.

In one instance, the report found that a grant manager approved over $600,000 in payments and later left the government agency to work for the grantee.

‘The OLA report shows a complete breakdown in how DHS’s Behavioral Health Administration manages hundreds of millions in taxpayer-funded grants,’ Republican State Sen. Mark Koran said in a press release. ‘BHA failed to verify that grantees were providing the services they were paid for, failed to put basic financial controls in place, and then created documentation after the fact to mislead auditors.

‘Minnesotans deserve integrity from state agencies. Fabricating evidence after an audit begins is unacceptable. It obstructs the OLA’s work and prevents DHS from correcting its failures. The finding that a DHS manager approved a large grant and later became a paid consultant for that same grantee is a blatant conflict of interest. This kind of misconduct erodes public trust and undermines the effectiveness of grant programs.’

The audit also found that when employees were surveyed, 73% of them said they did not receive the necessary training to properly administer manage grants, with one employee saying, ‘Executive leadership has repetitively shown staff that they won’t take the staff’s concerns or questions seriously until something serious happens or it makes the news.’

Minnesota’s government agencies are already under heavy scrutiny amid a fraud scandal that prosecutors say could total as much as $9 billion and has already forced Gov. Tim Walz to drop his re-election bid.

‘Today’s shocking report by the Legislative Auditor shows a culture of pervasive fraud, negligence, and deception,’ Republican House Speaker DeMuth said about the report.

‘We need answers immediately about the apparent backdating and potential falsification of documents found during the audit…It’s time to clean house and restore honesty and accountability in state agencies.’

Ultimately, the report concluded that the state government ‘did not comply with most requirements tested for mental health and substance use disorder grants and did not have adequate internal controls over grant funds.’

‘The audit makes clear that DHS leadership has failed at every level. Employees were not properly trained, oversight was ignored, and accountability was missing, from Governor Walz, to Temporary DHS Commissioner Gandhi, to BHA managers. DHS needs a full reset, starting with leadership, training, ethics, and oversight,’ Koran said in the press release.

The report was immediately picked up on social media, including from an account on X run by hundreds of anonymous DHS staff members.

‘Yes, MN DHS will falsify documents and data. Worst of all, they do it to state legislature to demand more state funding,’ Minnesota Staff Fraud Reporting Commentary posted on X. ‘And yes, MN DHS has lied to federal government. So.. fire Shireen Gandhi.’

Minnesota lawmakers open up about what’s next to fix massive fraud scandal

‘Minnesota’s Legislative Auditor just dropped a BOMBSHELL,’ Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X. ‘Tim Walz’s DHS fabricated records, had zero internal controls, and employees ignored oversight on more than $400 MILLION in grants. The fraud and corruption continues.’

Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office for comment.

Gandhi, the acting DHS commissioner, said on Monday that the ‘findings provide us with a roadmap for our focus going forward to continue strengthening oversight and integrity of behavioral health grants.’

‘I take the report seriously, I accept responsibility for the findings.’

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Sabrina Ionescu’s fiery halftime speech helps Oregon upset No. 21 USC

The Oregon Ducks upset No. 21 USC, 71-66, behind a furious second-half comeback and a fiery impromptu halftime speech from WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu.

Ionescu, an Oregon alumna, was sitting courtside with her husband, Hroniss Grasu, as the Ducks struggled to keep up with the Trojans and standout freshman Jazzy Davidson. Oregon scored just nine points in the first quarter. By halftime, they were down 37-21.

That would change after Ionescu spoke to the team in the locker room.

‘She kind of lit the kids up a little bit at halftime,’ Oregon head coach Kelly Graves said. ‘It’s really funny because she said the exact same thing I wanted to say. I gave her first crack at it, and she walked in, and I was thinking, ‘Damn, [Sabrina], I would have said the exact same thing.’ It was good to have her here on a night like this.’

Davidson, who had 10 points in the first half, scored one basket for the remainder of the matchup as Oregon turned up its defense and got its offense going. The Ducks won the second half 50-29, thanks to a 26-8 fourth quarter stand and a 14-0 run to end the game. Guard Ari Long knocked down three consecutive 3-pointers to push Oregon out in front, 69-66, with 31 seconds remaining.

What did Ionescu say that seemingly spurred the Ducks’ comeback win?

‘That we’ve got to play our game. We were a little intimidated, and she talked about that,’ Graves said. ‘She talked about playing stronger … Just realize who we are, and we’re not going to out-athlete them, so we’re going to have to out-tough them. The message was right on point, and they listened. Maybe I’ve got to hire her.’

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Where John Harbaugh, other top NFL coaching candidates will land

Start the music and the carousel will now be in motion.

With the NFL regular season now in the rearview, the offseason has begun for 18 of the league’s 32 teams. After all, every minute counts for those who missed the playoffs. As soon as Tyler Loop’s field goal went wide right to end the Baltimore Ravens’ season on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ it was time for multiple coaches to exit stage right on ‘Black Monday’ in the NFL.

It was a mostly uneventful day across the league, with four head coaches given the pink slip – bringing the total to six vacancies to be filled before offseason activities ramp up.

Then the Baltimore Ravens decided to ignite a fire under the carousel by parting ways with John Harbaugh after 18 seasons. It’s a move that will completely change the entire coaching landscape this offseason.

There are now seven head coach vacancies for this cycle. The Tennessee Titans and New York Giants got ahead of ‘Black Monday’ by firing Brian Callahan and Brian Daboll midseason. The Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens followed suit when the season concluded.

Now it’s one big game of musical chairs, with no telling where everyone will settle when the music stops.

Which coaching candidates will ultimately land the available jobs across the NFL? Here are USA TODAY Sports’ predictions for the NFL’s 2026 hiring cycle.

NFL coach landing spot predictions 2026

Arizona Cardinals: Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator

The Cardinals feel like a forgotten franchise at times and might just be the worst head coach opening at the moment. Arizona’s quarterback situation remains undefined and there is a massive Kyler Murray question hanging over the organization.

To make matters worse, the Cardinals head into the 2026 NFL Draft owning the No. 3 pick in what profiles as a two-quarterback class at best. Barring a trade or some funny business ahead of them, the Cardinals won’t be finding that solution during the draft. The bad seems to outweigh the good at the moment. Arizona plays in a loaded NFC West with no real path to contention right now.

It’s fair to wonder whether the Cardinals can do better than Jonathan Gannon in their search. In a world where there are only 32 openings, someone is bound to take the job, but will it be a top candidate? That’s hard to imagine. The Cardinals feel like a team primed to take the Kellen Moore route that the Saints did last offseason. It worked out well for them.

Perhaps poaching an offensive coordinator from a division rival pays off in more ways than one. Kubiak coached the No. 3 scoring offense in the league this season, averaging 28.4 points per game in Seattle. For a Cardinals team in need of direction, Kubiak is an excellent fit for the job.

Atlanta Falcons: Kevin Stefanski, former Cleveland Browns head coach

The Falcons have arguably the most attractive head coach opening in the league. Or at least they did, until the Ravens fired John Harbaugh. Regardless, Atlanta has an established crop of skill position players in a division that is winnable every year. Stefanski would have to compete with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders in the NFC East, but there is nowhere near the same threat in the NFC South.

Between that and Atlanta’s lack of a general manager, the former Browns coach could step into a situation with a clean slate and win right away.

The quarterback situation is far from solved, but this is a home run hire if Stefanski is a believer in Michael Penix Jr. Despite countless issues this season, the Falcons finished tied for first in the NFC South at 8-9. Some better coaching and another year of development for some of the team’s younger players would make for a quick turnaround.

They don’t have a first-round pick in 2026, which is a negative. However, Stefanski would likely welcome the idea of calling plays for Bijan Robinson and Drake London – a pair of players the Browns didn’t have during his tenure in Cleveland.

Baltimore Ravens: Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator

Baltimore sent shockwaves through the NFL coaching carousel by firing John Harbaugh on Jan. 6, opening up a huge vacancy with a potential Super Bowl contender. The Ravens were far from one in 2025 despite those big expectations, but this roster is still talented and led by the two-time league MVP, Lamar Jackson.

It makes sense to think that the Ravens would opt for an offensive-minded coach to pair with Jackson, but what about dipping into the old coaching staffs that once patrolled the sidelines in Baltimore? Minter isn’t Harbaugh, but he was part of the Ravens’ coaching pipeline under the now-former boss.

That close connection to Harbaugh could be enough to rule him out. However, no one in Baltimore would be upset if Mike Macdonald were running the show for the Ravens right now. The Seahawks’ coach is one of the best in the sport currently after leading Seattle to the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

Perhaps the Ravens can find the next great coach with Minter, who profiles as a solid leader that can also fix the team’s shoddy defense. In that world, keeping Todd Monken as offensive coordinator isn’t out of the realm of possibility. After all, offense hasn’t been the problem for Baltimore.

Cleveland Browns: John Harbaugh, former Baltimore Ravens head coach

Harbaugh is instantly the top storyline of the coaching carousel now. While the Browns aren’t the most attractive job, they do offer a few things the others don’t. Harbaugh is an Ohio native and also played college football at Miami (Ohio).

Perhaps there is an appetite to return to his roots without having to travel far. After all, his brother, Jim, did that at Michigan and coached his alma mater. Harbaugh would add instant credibility to a Browns organization that has severely lacked that in recent years.

Jimmy Haslam could boost the franchise’s perception by backing up the Brinks truck and giving Harbaugh everything he wants and more.

The Browns are still rebuilding and no one knows if Harbaugh would be willing to accept that. However, he would have the chance to compete against the Ravens two times a year after his unceremonious departure. Building the Browns into a contender could be enticing for someone like Harbaugh, who already has a Super Bowl ring on his finger.

Las Vegas Raiders: Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator

Tom Brady appears determined to rebuild a mid-2010’s juggernaut. He tried, and failed, with Pete Carroll in 2025. Cross the Seahawks off that list. Now he can set his sights on his former team, the Patriots and bring Flores on board.

Make no mistake, Flores is an attractive candidate. He has routinely coached some of the league’s better, more aggressive defenses. It didn’t end well in Miami. Flores also has ongoing lawsuits against the league and several teams. Those cases were filed in 2022, alleging racial discrimination in the hiring process.

None of that prevents the Raiders from hiring Flores though. In fact, he might be one of those coaches who thrives after being given a second chance. Could Daboll also be someone who joins Flores in the desert? Given their dysfunction over the past few seasons, the Raiders need a stabilizing force like Flores.

New York Giants: Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator

If there’s one thing the Giants like, it’s having a connection to the coach they eventually hire. Daboll was a Bill Belichick disciple, and the same was true for Joe Judge. Pat Shurmur previously worked under Steve Spagnuolo, who, like Ben McAdoo, had a connection to the good old days with Tom Coughlin.

Hafley doesn’t come with any of those connections, but he does have a connection to the area. A Montvale, New Jersey, native, the Packers’ defensive coordinator has a lengthy coaching history dating back to 2001. He coached one season at Rutgers and also served as head coach at Boston College from 2020 to 2023.

That might not be the flashy hire that fans want, but you don’t win games by stealing headlines. Hafley’s defense took a step back in Green Bay over the past month after losing Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt to season-ending injuries.

Injuries aren’t Hafley’s fault and if he can bring along a solid offensive coordinator, he might just be the perfect fit for the Giants.

Tennessee Titans: Mike McCarthy, former Dallas Cowboys head coach

McCarthy seems determined to land a head coaching gig this offseason. The former Cowboys coach sat on the sidelines after parting ways with Dallas after the 2024 season.

Now he appears ready to get back into coaching and Tennessee feels like a great fit. The 62-year-old likely won’t want a lengthy rebuild, which isn’t guaranteed with the Titans. However, if he is a fan of Cam Ward, then McCarthy would have the luxury of helping mold the roster the way he envisions it.

Offense has never been a problem for McCarthy’s teams and he is one of the more established coaches available this offseason.

The Titans will also want to take some steps in the right direction before moving into their new stadium in 2027. Like it or not, football is also a business and selling fans on a coach like McCarthy is a lot easier than whatever coordinator they can land in an uninspiring cycle.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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